The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has underscored the importance of sustained international defence cooperation as Nigeria intensifies efforts to address prevailing security challenges.

Mr Shaibu stated this while receiving the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Col. Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

The acting director, army public relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The COAS commended France for its continued collaboration with the Nigerian Army, particularly in intelligence sharing, professional military training and support for operational readiness.

He said such partnerships remained critical to Nigeria’s broader strategy to counter evolving security threats within the country and the West African sub-region.

Mr Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps, stressing the need to sustain mutually beneficial bilateral defence cooperation.

According to him, a long-term partnership with France, anchored on capacity building, advanced training and enhanced operational effectiveness, aligns with contemporary security realities.

Earlier, Mr Useo praised the resilience and professionalism of the Nigerian Army in confronting emerging security challenges, particularly commending its successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin.

He advocated expanded access for Nigerian Army personnel to strategic professional military courses, especially in public relations and aviation.

The French envoy also described the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of the leading institutions in Africa for training personnel in civil-military relations and strategic communication.

Mr Useo reiterated France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Nigeria, emphasising shared responsibility in promoting regional stability, countering emerging threats and building sustainable military capacity.

He said the partnership was mutually reinforcing and would continue to enhance the defence capabilities and professional standards of both nations.

The engagement focused on strengthening operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to evolving regional and global security challenges. 

(NAN)